Memphis Depay: Don’t compare me to Cristiana Ronaldo

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal rates Memphis Depay as one of the biggest talents of his age but the forward was keen to play down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal rates Memphis Depay as one of the biggest talents of his age but the forward was keen to play down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.The 21-year-old Holland international is the club’s first signing of the summer – although Torino full-back Matteo Darmian is likely to be next through the door after flying in for a medical – and at £31million did not come cheap.He scored 25 goals for PSV Eindhoven last season, although Van Gaal played him as a winger when he was in charge of the national team and plans to utilise him in a number of possible roles for the Red Devils.

However, he has no doubt about the youngster’s quality.“I think he is one of the few highly-talented boys of his age and you can hear he is full of confidence,” said the manager.However, when it was suggested to the player he had already been compared with a former United favourite, Cristiano Ronaldo, the player distanced himself from that.“That is the best player in the world. I don’t want to talk too much. I want to show it on the pitch,” he said.“I am still young. I played two seasons for PSV. I want to let my feet speak. I don’t want to compare myself with somebody like that.”But asked whether he thought he could reproduce his scintillating form in front of goal in England, he added:“I think so. I believe I will work on it and I am excited to do my job for Manchester United and to score goals. I am a striker – I have to score goals and get assists.”

Van Gaal sounded a word of caution after watching the likes of British record signing Angel di Maria, an experienced Argentina international and regular for Real Madrid, struggle in his first Premier League season.“He shall notice that it is not so easy in the Premier League,” said the veteran Dutchman.“It is a big difference from the Dutch league: always pressure on the ball and physical resistance is high so it is not so easy.”“I have said that but he is full of confidence so he shall say what he is feeling but I know it is not easy. Players like Marcos Rojo, Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind had problems.”Depay played under Louis van Gaal when the Dutch manager was in charge of the national side leading Les Oranjes to win bronze at the World Cup in Brazil.Source: Wires